The Rite of Baptism

The priest (wearing a violet stole), sponsors, and the catechumen stand in the narthex of the church, symbolizing that at this point, the candidate is not a member of the Church. The QuestioningPriest: N., what do you ask of the Church of Priest: N., quid petis ab Ecclesia Dei?God?Sponsor/Catechumen: Faith. Sponsor/Catechumen: Fidem.Priest: What does Faith offer you? Priest: Fides, quid tibi præstat?Sponsor/Catechumen: Life everlasting. Sponsor/Catechumen: Vitam æternam.Priest: If then you desire to enter into life, keep Priest: Si igitur vis ad vitam ingredi, servathe commandments. ‘Thou shalt love the Lord mandata. Diligis Dominum Deum tuum ex totothy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole corde tuo, et ex tota anima tua, et ex tota mentesoul and with thy whole mind; and thy neighbour tua, et proximum tuum sicut teipsum.as thyself.'

The Exsufflation The priest then breathes 3 times on the candidate in the form of a Cross, recalling the Spirit (breath, wind, "ruach") of God.Priest: Go forth from him (her), unclean spirit, Priest: Exi ab eo (ea), immunde spiritus, et daand give place to the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. locum Spiritui Sancto Paraclito.

The Sign of the Cross

The priest now makes the Sign of the Cross with his thumb on the candidate's forehead and breast.Priest: Receive the Sign of the Cross both upon Priest: Accipe signum Crucis tam in fronte, quamyour forehead + and also upon your heart +; take in corde, sume fidem cælestium præceptorum: etto you the faith of the heavenly precepts; and so talis esto moribus, ut templum Dei iam esseorder your life as to be, from henceforth, the possis.temple of God.Priest: Let us pray: Mercifully hear our prayers, Priest: Oremus: Preces nostras, quaesumus,we beseech Thee, O Lord; and by Thy perpetual Domine, clementer exaudi; et hunc electum tuumassistance keep this Thine elect, N, signed with (hanc electam tuam), N. crucis Dominicaethe sign of the Lord's cross, so that, preserving impressione signatum (-am), perpetua virtutethis first experience of the greatness of Thy custodi; ut magnitudinis gloriae tuae rudimentaglory, he (she) may deserve, by keeping Thy servans, per custodiam mandatorum, adcommandments, to attain to the glory of regenerationis gloriam pervenire mereatur (-regeneration. Through Christ our Lord. antur). Per Christum Dominum nostrum.Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen. Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.

The Imposition of Salt

Now the priest puts a little blessed salt in the candidate's mouth. Salt is the symbol of that wisdom which gives a relish for the sweetness of divine nourishment; preserves, by the teaching of the Gospel, from the corruption of sin, and prevents evil passions from growing in men's souls. Adult catechumens might be signed on the brow, ears, eyes, nostrils, mouth, breast, and between the shoulders before the imposition of salt. If this procedure is followed, afterwards the candidate will kneel, recite the Our Father several times, and a Cross is made on his forehead, first by the sponsor and then by the priest.Priest: N., Receive the salt of wisdom; let it be to Priest: N., accipe sal sapientiæ: propitiatio sit tibithee a token of mercy unto everlasting life. May it in vitam æternam.make your way easy to eternal life.Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen. Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.Priest: Peace be with you. Priest: Pax tecum.Sponsor/Catechumen: And with your spirit. Sponsor/Catechumen: Et cum spiritu tuo.Priest: Let us pray: O God of our fathers, O God Priest: Oremus: Deus patrum nostrorum, Deusthe Author of all truth, vouchsafe, we humbly universae conditor veritatis, te supplicesbeseech Thee, to look graciously down upon this exoramus, ut hunc famulum tuum (hanc famulamThy servant, N., and as he (she) tastes this first tuam) respicere digneris propitius, et hoc primumnutriment of salt, suffer him (her) no longer to pabulum salis gustantem, non diutius esurirehunger for want of heavenly food, to the end that permittas, quo minus cibo expleatur caelesti,he (she) may be always fervent in spirit, rejoicing quatenus sit semper spiritu fervens, spein hope, always serving Thy name. Lead him gaudens, tuo semper nomini serviens. Perduc(her), O Lord, we beseech Thee, to the laver of eum (eam), Domine, quaesumus ad novaethe new regeneration, that, together with Thy regenerationis lavacrum, ut cum fidelibus tuisfaithful, he may deserve to attain the everlasting promissionum tuarum aeterna praemia consequirewards of Thy promises. Through Christ our mereatur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.Lord.Priest: Through the same Christ our Lord. Priest: Per eundum Christum Dominum nostrum.Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen

Part II: Admission into the Church Building The Exorcism The priest makes the Sign of the Cross over the candidate three times and says:Priest: I exorcise thee, unclean spirit, in the Priest: Exorcizo te, immunde spiritus, in nominename of the Father + and of the Son, + and of Patris + et Filii + et Spiritus + Sancti, ut exeas, etthe Holy + Spirit, that thou goest out and depart recedas ab hoc famulo (hac famula) Dei N.: ipsefrom this servant of God, N. For He commands enim tibi imperat, maledicte damnate, quiThee, accursed one, Who walked upon the sea, pedibus super mare ambulavit, et Petro mergentiand stretched out His right hand to Peter about dexteram porrexit. Ergo, maledicte diabole,to sink. Therefore, accursed devil, acknowledge recognosce sententiam tuam, et da honoremthy sentence, and give honor to the living and Deo vivo et vero, da honorem Iesu Christo Filiotrue God: give honor to Jesus Christ His Son, eius, et Spiritui Sancto, et recede ab hoc famuloand to the Holy Spirit; and depart from this (hac famula) Dei N, quia istum (-am) sibi Deus etservant of God, N. because God and our Lord Dominus noster Iesus Christus ad suam sanctamJesus Christ hath vouchsafed to call him (her) to gratiam, et benedictionem, fontemqueHis holy grace and benediction and to the font of Baptismatis vocare dignatus est.Baptism. The Sign of the Cross The priest again makes the Sign of the Cross on the candidate's foreheadPriest: And this sign of the holy Cross, which we Priest: Et hoc signum sanctae Crucis, + quodmake upon his (her) forehead, do thou, accursed nos fronti eius damus, tu, maledicte diabole,devil, never dare to violate. numquam audeas violare.Priest: Through the same Christ our Lord. Priest: Per eundum Christum Dominum nostrum.Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen

Admission into the Church Building

The priest lays the end of his stole on the candidate as a symbol of his priestly authority, and admits him into the church building, which is the symbol of the Church of Christ. If the catechumen is an adult and was annointed in Part I above, he may be asked to lie prostrate before the Altar in adoration of Christ before this next step.Priest: N., enter thou into the temple of God, that Priest: N., ingredere in templum Dei, ut habeas (-thou mayest have part with Christ unto life ant) partem cum Christo in vitam aeternam.everlasting.Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen. Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.

The Credo and Pater

Sponsor/Catechumen: I believe in God the Sponsor/Catechumen: Credo in Deum, PatremFather Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, omnipotentem, Creatorem cæli et terræ. Et inand in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who Iesum Christum, Filium eius unicum, Dominumwas conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the nostrum: qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto,Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato,crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus: descendit adHell. On the third day, He rose again from the inferos; tertia die resurrexit a mortuis; ascenditdead. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at ad cælos; sedet ad dexteram Dei Patristhe right hand of God the Father Almighty; from omnipotentis; inde venturus est iudicare vivos etthence shall He come to judge the living and the mortuos. Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctamdead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Ecclesiam catholicam, SanctorumCatholic Church; the communion of saints; the communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnisforgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, resurrectionem, vitam æternam. Amen.and life everlasting. Amen.Sponsor/Catechumen: Our Father, who art in Sponsor/Catechumen: Pater noster, qui es inheaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom cælis, sanctificetur nomen tuum. Adveniatcome. Thy will be done on earth as it is in regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in cælo, etheaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And in terra. Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobisforgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them hodie. Et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nosthat trespass against us. And lead us not into dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducastemptation: but deliver us from evil. Amen. in tentationem: sed libera nos a malo. Amen.

Part III In the Nave of the Church The Solemn ExorcismPriest: I exorcise thee, every unclean spirit, in the Priest: Exorcizo te, omnis spiritus immunde, inname of God the Father + Almighty, in the name nomine Dei + Patris omnipotentis, et in nomineof Jesus + Christ, His Son, our Lord and Judge, Iesu + Christi Filii eius, Domini et Iudicis nostri, etand in the power of the Holy + Spirit, that thou be in virtute Spiritus + Sancti, ut discedas ab hocdepart from this creature of God N, which our plasmate Dei N, quod Dominus noster adLord hath deigned to call unto His holy temple, templum sanctum suum vocare dignatus est, utthat it may be made the temple of the living God, fiat templum Dei vivi, et Spiritus Sanctus habitetand that the Holy Spirit may dwell therein. in eo. Per eundum Christum Dominum nostrum,Through the same Christ our Lord, who shall qui venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos, etcome to judge the living and the dead, and the saeculum per ignem.world by fire The Ephpheta The priest takes a little spittle and touches the ears and nostrils of the candidate with it. For health reasons, the use of spittle may be omitted. This rite comes from Mark 7:33-35, when Jesus healed the deaf-mute: "And taking him from the multitude apart, he put his fingers into his ears: and spitting, he touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he groaned and said to him: Ephpheta, which is, Be thou opened. And immediately his ears were opened and the string of his tongue was loosed and he spoke right.".Priest: Ephpheta, that is to say, Be opened, for Priest: Ephpheta, quod est, Adaperire. In odoreman odour of sweetness. Thou, devil, begone; for suavitatis. Tu autem effugare, diabole;the judgment of God shall draw near. appropinquabit enim iudicium Dei.

The Renunciation of Satan

Priest: N., do you renounce Satan? Priest: N., abrenuntias Satanæ?Sponsor/Catechumen: I do renounce him. Sponsor/Catechumen: Abrenuntio.Priest: And all of his works? Priest: Et omnibus operibus eius?Sponsor/Catechumen: I do renounce him. Sponsor/Catechumen: Abrenuntio.Priest: And all his pomps? Priest: Et omnibus pompis eius?Sponsor/Catechumen: I do renounce him. Sponsor/Catechumen: Abrenuntio. The Annointing The priest annoints the candidate with the oil of catechumens on the heart and between the shoulders in the form of a Cross, saying:Priest: I anoint you + with the oil of salvation in Priest: Ego te linio Oleo salutis in Christo IesuChrist Jesus our Lord, that you may have Domino nostro, ut habeas vitam æternam.everlasting life.Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen. Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.

Part IV At the Font The priest removes his violet stole and puts on a white one. The Profession of FaithPriest: N., do you believe in God the Father Priest: N., credis in Deum Patrem omnipotentem,Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth? creatorem cæli et terram ?Sponsor/Catechumen: I do believe. Sponsor/Catechumen: Credo.Priest: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Priest: Credis in Iesum Christum, Filium eiusSon our Lord, Who was born and Who suffered? unicum, Dominum nostrum, natum, et passum?Sponsor/Catechumen: I do believe. Sponsor/Catechumen: Credo.Priest: Do you believe in the Holy Ghost, the Priest: Credis et in Spiritum sanctum, sanctamHoly Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, Ecclesiam catholicam, Sanctorumthe forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnisbody and life everlasting? resurrectionem, et vitam æternam?Sponsor/Catechumen: I do believe. Sponsor/Catechumen: Credo.

Baptism (Matter and Form of the Sacrament)

If the one to be baptized is a baby, the godparents take him to the font (the godmother holds him in her arms, the godfather touches the baby's shoulder with his right hand); if he is an adult, the sponsor puts his right hand on the shoulder of the one to be baptized.Priest: N., will you be baptized? Priest: N., vis baptizari?Sponsor/Catechumen: I will. Sponsor/Catechumen: Volo. The priest pours water over the head of the candidate three times, once after each mention of the Divine Persons. The water he uses will have been consecrated during the Easter Vigil or on the Eve of the Pentecost. As he pours the water, the priest says these words (or the words of a conditional Baptism):Priest: I baptize you in the name of the Father + Priest: N, ego te baptizo in nomine + Patris, etand of the Son + and of the Holy + Spirit. Filii, +, et Spiritus + Sancti. The Annointing with ChrismPriest: May the Almighty God, the Father of our Priest: Deus omnipotens, Pater Domini nostriLord Jesus Christ, Who hath regenerated thee Iesu Christi, qui te regeneravit ex aqua et Spirituby water and the Holy Spirit, and who hath given Sancto, quique dedit tibi remissionem omniumthee the remission of all thy sins, may He peccatorum, ipse te + liniat Chrismate Salutis inHimself + anoint thee with the Chrism of eodem Christo Iesu Domino nostro in vitamSalvation, in the same Christ Jesus our Lord, aeternam.unto life eternal.Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen. Sponsor/Catechumen: Amen.Priest: Peace be with you. Priest: Pax tibi.Sponsor/Catechumen: And with your spirit. Sponsor/Catechumen: Et cum spiritu tuo.

The White Linen Cloth

This priest takes a white linen cloth -- symbolizing the purity of a soul cleansed from all sin, and a relic of the days when the newly baptized wore white albs for 8 days -- and places it on the head of the candidate.Priest: Receive this white garment, which mayest Priest: Accipe vestem candidam, quam perferasthou carry without stain before the judgment seat immaculatam ante tribunalem Domini nostri Iesuof our Lord Jesus Christ, that thou mayest have Christi, ut habeas vitam æternam. Amen.life everlasting.

The Lighted Candle

The priest gives the candidate or the sponsor a lighted candle.Priest: Receive this burning light, and keep thy Priest: Accipe lampadem ardentem, etBaptism so as to be without blame: keep the irreprehensibilis custodi Baptismum tuum: servacommandments of God, that when the Lord shall Dei mandata ut cum Dominus venerit ad nuptias,come to the nuptials, thou mayest meet Him possis occurrere ei una cum omnibus Sanctis intogether with all the Saints in the heavenly court, aula caelesti, habeasque vitam aeternam, etand mayest have eternal life and live for ever vivas in saecula saeculorum.and ever.